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Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide

This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter.
For more advanced trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. They hope these examples will help you to get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.

Little info first: Semi-new to linux. I have an old NEC Versa LX PII 366mhz 128MB 12GB Hard drive.
given to me with Win. 2000. It worked fine but wanted to put linux on it. I installed Ubuntu 5.06 and I got working without doing any configuring, thank god. Don't understand all that. Problem was, it messed up Win. 2000. It ran very slow. So, finally decided to do clean install of XP, worked with no problem. Its kinda of slow and I want to learn more about linux, so I tried newest VER. of Ubuntu Dapper, but it hangs when loading (using ship it CD). I tried downloading and burning with same results. So I looked for something that wouldn't be as heavy on resources, and found Zenwalk 4.0. Downloaded, burned, and then installed no problem. The problem I'm having is that I can't seem to get wireless working on it, using Linksys WPC54G VER 3.0. I tried various solutions to no avail. It's like the card is not scanning. Here's some results. Also, i have ndiswrapper installed with driver present. Wifi-radar couldn't get it to work.
this is from dmesg:
ndiswrapper version 1.28 loaded (preempt=yes,smp=yes)
ndiswrapper: driver linksys (The Linksys Group, Inc.,02/14/2005, 3.90.36.0) loaded
PCI: Enabling device 0000:02:00.0 (0000 -> 0002)
PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:02:00.0 to 64
ndiswrapper: using IRQ 10
wlan0: vendor: ''
wlan0: ethernet device 00:14:bf:49:9b:da using NDIS driver linksys, 14E4:4318.5.conf
wlan0: encryption modes supported: WEP; TKIP with WPA, WPA2, WPA2PSK; AES/CCMP with WPA, WPA2, WPA2PSK
usbcore: registered new driver ndiswrapper

I don't see what I'm missing or if I messed with too many files. I've tried fooling around with /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1, rc.inet1.conf, rc.wireless, rc.wireless.conf
tried dhcpcd wlan0 up. Nothing.
I've tried reading about it everywhere but I just can't seem to figure it out.
Another question: How would I go about uninstalling lilo so i could use Xubuntu without messing up windoze? I would like to dual boot, not completely comfortable with linux obviously. Trying to get there though.
Sorry for the long post. I tried to put everything I know and have done.

Step One: Make sure device works
Step Two: Configure wpa_supplicant
Step Three: Configure networking ( e.g. DHCP or manual IP, route, etc.)
Step One is needed before step two is possible. Step Two is needed before the DHCP server can be contacted

1)
Read the manpage for "iwlist". You left out the interface (i.e. wlan0) on the line. If a list of APs show up then the device itself is working. ( I might be wrong, maybe all interfaces are tried. )
Look at the output of "sudo /sbin/lsmod | grep ndiswrapper" to make sure that the ndiswrapper kernel module is loaded. I think it is however. If you installed ndiswrapper from a package, check if an ndiswrapper kernel module package for your kernel version is also installed. Did you run "ndiswrapper -m" to update /etc/modprobe.d/ndiswrapper? Which windows driver did you load?
Look in the ndiswrapper wiki for the windows driver that they recommend. Be certain if you are running x86_64, that you use a 64 bit driver. http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/m...index.php/List

2)
What type of encryption does your AP use?
You may still need to configure wpa_supplicant. Before you authenticate with the AP you will not have an IP address via DHCP. There may be a gui configuration where you can enter the ESSID, channel and the key. If that is the case, this program will write an /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf file for you, or start it dynamically.

You can find sample wpa configurations in /usr/share/doc/packages/wpa_supplicant/.

I had an odd case where I used a Linksys wireless card on my desktop and it wouldn't authenticate. It turned out, that someone gave their AP the same name as mine. Changing my AP's ESSID fixed the problem, even though I had my AP's MAC address in the config as well.

----

Concerning your lockup right away trying to install Ubuntu. I had the same problem with a SuSE 10.2 install disc. I needed to add the boot option "NOAPIC". I don't have an Opteron, so I hope that wasn't a problem. If you don't have a Multiprocessor, then you can use the "NOAPIC" option without problems.

Read the manpage for "iwlist". You left out the interface (i.e. wlan0) on the line. If a list of APs show up then the device itself is working.

What type of encryption does your AP use?
You may still need to configure wpa_supplicant. Before you authenticate with the AP you will not have an IP address via DHCP. There may be a gui configuration where you can enter the ESSID, channel and the key. If that is the case, this program will write an /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf file for you, or start it dynamically.

You can find sample wpa configurations in /usr/share/doc/packages/wpa_supplicant/.

Running "iwlist" shows no AP's
encryption type is WEP 128bit
i notice when running in xp the link light blinks when the card is active i havn't seen the link light blink in Zenwalk
TIA for any help
Darknet
i will run "sudo /sbin/lsmod | grep ndiswrapper" and post output
Ndiswrapper came with distro already installed the driver i'm using worked in ubuntu 5.04 that i had running, before i started over.
thanks

Does your router or other devices only support wep? During a security demonstration, two FBI agents using common open source tools were able to crack a wep-128 encrypted network in 3 minutes. A third agent was giving a PowerPoint presentation to some businessmen. I just wanted to point out that moving to wpa-psk if possible would be a good idea.

Anyway if "/usr/sbin/iwlist wlan0 scan" doesn't return anything, then you have a device problem that has to be fixed before you can find out if wep is configured OK.
What is the name of the windows driver you wrapped and where did you get it.
For 32bit bcm4318 rev 2, this is where someone at the ndiswrapper wiki got the windows files:http://biginoz.free.fr/linux/bcmwl5a.infhttp://biginoz.free.fr/linux/bcmwl5.sys

Another possibility is that you haven't blacklisted the bcm43xx kernel module.

Add the line "blacklist bcm43xx" to /etc/modprobe.conf or if it is recommended by your distro, to the /etc/modprobe.conf.local file instead. If both the bcm43xx and ndiswrapper module is loaded, your wireless device won't work.

Check for the module with "/sbin/lsmod | grep bcm43xx". Post the results of "ndiswrapper -l" for good measure.

I uninstalled the driver I was using which is lscmnds.inf from the Windows install cd. Downloaded driver from above site you mentioned with the same luck. I think I'm going to do a format and start over with Xubuntu and forget windoze. getting frustrated with this not working. Will try boot option "NOAPCI" like you said above.
thanks for the help jschiwal

Will try boot option "NOAPCI" like you said above.
thanks for the help jschiwal

The option I recommend trying is "NOAPIC". It is different than "pci=NOACPI". Modern mobo's share interrupts and you need APCI to do that. It is also used for regulating the speed of the processor and power saving features.

At first glance they look the same, especially if you are dyslexic. ( or even just a bit myopic ).